Va. Launches Online Psychiatric Bed Registry

Virginia mental health workers have a new tool to find psychiatric beds for people being held for treatment under emergency custody orders.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services says an online statewide psychiatric bed registry went live on Monday.

The Virginia Acute Psychiatric and CSB Bed Registry lists available psychiatric beds at private psychiatric hospitals, state facilities and crisis stabilization units.

Acting Behavioral Health and Developmental Services commissioner Jack Pezzoli says in a news release that time is critical when a community service board pre-screener is trying to find a psychiatric bed for someone in crisis.

Under state law, an individual cannot be held longer than six hours under an emergency custody order.